Question

"The world" refers to the modern, materialistic society that the speaker feels has disconnected humans from the natural world. Throughout the poem, the speaker references "the world" as a symbol of consumerism and excessive focus on material possessions. This differs from our common understanding of "the world," which typically refers to the natural environment and the broader global community. Wordsworth's use of "the world" functions as a critique of society's lack of appreciation for nature and as a call to reconnect with the natural world.

a) True
b) False

Answer 1

Wordsworth's 'The World Is Too Much with Us' presents 'the world' as a modern society obsessed with material wealth, contrasting it with the natural world. The poem critiques this materialism for creating a disconnect with nature. The statement that 'the world' refers to materialistic society, different from the common understanding, is true.

Step-by-step explanation:

In William Wordsworth's poem 'The World Is Too Much with Us', 'the world' symbolizes the modern, materialistic society that distances humans from the natural world. The speaker laments that humankind's preoccupation with consumerism and material possessions has led to a loss of connection with Nature, which offers spiritual and emotional enrichment that the materialistic world cannot provide. This theme is manifest in the poem when Wordsworth writes, 'Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers; Little we see in Nature that is ours.' The poem is a critique of society's values, embodying a wish to return to a more primitive life in tune with the natural world—a sentiment expressed in the speaker's desire to witness mythological figures, such as Proteus, associated with the forces of nature.

The relationship between human beings and nature in the poem seems adversarial, as there is a conflict between the growing industrialization and the primal, unfettered beauty of the natural environment. By giving nature human traits through anthropomorphism and dehumanizing characters by comparing them to elements of nature—a technique known as chremamorphism—Wordsworth emphasizes the intrinsic value of the natural world. The poem's message seems prescient of modern environmental concerns, advocating for a revival of the domestic affections for nature that may align with today's environmentalism and environmental justice movements.